Davidson, H. - Gods and Myths of Northern Europe

Bergelmir, 27, 198–9

Berserks, 66–8, 70

Beyla, 108

Bifrons, sword from, 83

Bifrost, 26, 29, 38, 193

Boar: of Freyr, 29, 42; of Freyja, 98; on helmets, 98, 99, 116; thrown into sea, 101; worn by Æstii, 99

Bobd, 65

Boe, 185

Bog-finds, 55–6, 71, 83

Boniface, St, 87

Bor, 27, 47, 198

Bothvar Biarki , 49, 67

Bragi, 29, 30, 164–5

Bragi Boddason, 89, 164

Brian Boru, King, 87

Bridge: of the gods, 26, 29, 38, 173, 202; on road to Hel, 36, 193

Brísingamen , 116, 176

Brosingamene , 116

Brynhild, 150–1

Burchard, Bishop, 112

Buri, 27

Burning of dead: after battle, 135, 159, 160; associated with Odin, 51, 52, 54, 148, 152; associated with Thor, 79, 158; Balder, 36, 187; by Alamanni, 161; by Anglo-Saxons, 83, 147, 160; women, 150, 151

Byggvir, 108

Caedmon, 198

Caister-on-Sea, 134

Cats, 30, 34, 120, 139

Celtic peoples: deities of, 65, 86, 112, 165, 174, 204; poetry of, 75, 77; saga of, 130, 132, 165–6, 167

Chain, for Fenrir, 31

Chariot of Thor, 75, 76

Charles the Great, 171, 196

Chatti, 55, 66–7, 69

Child, divine, 104–5, 107, 111, 138

Children: birth of, 111, 112, 123, 156–7, 174, 195; hallowing of, 80; foretelling destiny of, 112, 120, 121, 195; name-giving to, 111, 155

Christ: Balder representing, 108; Forseti representing, 172; on Gosforth Cross, 179, 208; seen as warrior, 221; Thor adversary of, 73

Christianity: of Gosforth Cross, 207; in Snorri, 25; in Vǫluspá 203, 204; victory of, 219–23

Cimbri, 54, 99

Clontarf, Battle of, 64–5

Codex Regius , 15–16

Coifi, 50–1

Cold: at creation, 27, 198–200; at end of world, 37, 46, 202, 209

Cow, 27, 198, 200

Creation, 27–8, 46, 197–202

Cross: at centre of the world, 196; Gosforth, 173, 179, 207; opposed to hammer, 80–1, 83

Cuthbert, St, 12, 223

Cybele, 21, 96, 123

Cynewulf, 99

Danes, 11, 12, 77; conversion of, 12; in England, 77. See also Denmark

Darraðarljoð , 65

Dejbjerb, wagons from, 95

Denmark: amulets from, 81; Balder in, 185; bog-finds in, 55–6; folklore from, 203; fortresses in, 69; Gefion in, 113; Ing in, 104; kings of, 45, 103–4, 105; place-names in, 87; lucky trees in, 88; Wade in, 131; Wodan in, 148; worship of Nerthus in, 94–5, 100, 109, 110

Deus Regnator Omnium, 59

Devil, 148, 176, 178, 179

Dioskouroi , 169–71

Dokana, 169

Donar, 82, 86, 87, 163

Dragon, 159–62

Draugr , 154

Draupnir, 36, 42

Dream of the Rood , 108–9, 221

Drum, 82–3, 145, 148

Dublin, 12, 64, 73, 75, 87, 88

Dumézil, G., 21, 60, 67, 79, 108, 167, 179

Dwarfs, 23, 27, 28, 31, 40, 42, 178

Dying God, 21, 108–10. See also Balder

Eagle: giant in form of, 39; on Tree, 27; in Valhalla, 149

Earth deity, 21, 93, 110–11, 113–14; mother of Thor, 29, 84; Nerthus, 95, 102, 110

East, influences from, 148, 161–2, 196, 200

East Anglia: Redwald of, 219–20; ship-burial in, 133–4, 136; urns from, 83, 147

Edda (Elder) , 24, 162, 187, 192, 196, 201, 205, 213

Edwin of Northumbria, 50, 221–2

Egg, in creation myth, 200–1

Egill Skallagrimsson, 13, 68, 128–9

Egils Saga , 115

Egils Saga ok Asmundar , 143

Eiriksmál , 153, 186, 205

Eiríks Saga Rauða , 117, 118

Elene , 99

Eliade, Mircea, 16, 20, 126, 142, 144, 203, 212

Eligius, Bishop, 86

Elli (Age), 34

Elves, 28, 156

Eric of Sweden, 53, 94, 151

Eric the Red, 17

Exodus (Old English poem), 65

Eyrbyggja Saga , 53, 77, 78, 122, 158

Eysteinn Valdason, 89

Eyvind Kelda, 121

Fafnir, 23, 43–4, 162

Fenrir, 29, 31, 37, 38, 59, 178, 216–17

Fetters, 59, 63, 64, 66

Fimmilene, 62

Finno-Ugric myths, 174, 192, 195, 201

Fire: at Romove sanctuary, 87; in grave, 160, 161; kindled from image, 78; of dragon, 161; of Thor, 79; realm of, 27; to burn world, 38, 202, 204, 206, 208–9

Fishing of Thor, 35, 47, 89–90, 138, 207

Fjǫrgyn(n), 106, 111

Flateyjarbók mentions: battle in mound, 152; Freyja’s necklace, 115; Gunnar Helming, 93–4; image of Thor, 75–6; Lýtir, 94; Norna-Gest, 120; Olaf of Geirstad, 155; Sigrid the Proud, 152; Thorgerda, 122, 170

Flóamanna Saga , 85

Folklore: of Balder, 187; of Loki, 180, 181; of Ragnarok, 203; of Ran, 189; of ‘wild hunt’, 148; value of, 18–19

Forseti, 29, 171–2

Freyfaxi, 97–8

Freyja, 30, 92, 114–25; bird shape of, 39, 42, 44; boar of, 98; child-birth and, 111; Gefion and, 113; giants and, 31, 41; Isis and, 137; Mengloð and, 175; necklace of, 176, 178; Odin and, 153–4; place-names after, 106; tears of, 23; Thor disguised as, 45, 73

Freyr, 29, 92–103; at Ragnarok, 38, 206; at Uppsala, 12, 121, 191; Frodi and, 104; Gerd and, 30, 92, 126, 165; Ing and, 104; in mound, 109, 154, 155; kings descended from, 110, 159; married to Freyja, 115; oaths to, 77; place-names after, 106; priests of, 135; sent to Aesir, 45; ship of, 42; Thorgerda and, 122

Freysgyðlingar , 101

Friagabi, 62, 64

Fridleif of Denmark, 112

Friðþjófs Saga , 129

Frigg, 25, 30, 111–14; Balder and, 35–6, 110; bird form of, 117; connexion with children, 121, 165; Freyja and, 123–4; infidelity of, 201

Frija, 111, 183

Frisians, 11, 171

Frodi, 101, 103–4, 107, 124, 135

Fulla, 30

Funeral rites, 17; for Balder, 36, 187; for Freyr, 100; for Odin, 152; funeral ale, 164; use of hammer, 80. See also Burning of Dead; Ship-graves

Fyrisvellir, Battle of, 53

Gamli Gnœvaðarskáld , 89

Gangleri, 25–6, 35

Garm, 38, 59

Gautreks Saga , 51–2

Geats, 51

Gefion, 30, 45, 113, 114, 116

Gefn, 113, 116

Geirrod, 42, 74, 111, 153

Gerd, 30, 92, 165, 206

Germanic peoples, 11, 14; funeral customs, 160, 165; god of Semnones, 59; sacred places, 200; sacred trees, 88, 190–1; seeresses, 12; Tacitus and, 15; warfare among, 70–1, 215; World Pillar, 196; worship of Alcis, 169; Donar, 82, 86; Mothers, 112; Saxnot, 60; Tîwaz, 56–8, 69; war-spirits, 62–3, 65–6; Wodan, 54–6, 70, 141, 148. See also under names of various tribes

Giants and giantesses, 26, 27, 29, 91, 115, 198–9, 214; Aegir, 130; at Ragnarok, 37–8, 181, 202; builder of Asgard, 31; Geirrod, 42, 74; giantess at Balder’s funeral, 36; Gilling, Suttung, and Baugi, 40; Gymir, 130; Hrungnir, 41, 74; Hymir, 35, 130; Loki and, 177; Mimir, 166; Thiazi, 39–40; Thrym, 45, 74; Utgard giants, 32–5

Gilton, Thor’s hammer from, 81

Gilling, 40

Gimli, 28

Ginnungagap, 27, 197

Gísla Saga , 100, 101, 135, 156

Gisli, 135

Gjallarhorn , 29, 38, 173

Gloves of Thor, 29, 42, 73, 179

Glum, 101–2

Gna, 30

Goats: round World Tree, 27, 28, 200; of Thor, 29, 32, 74, 75–6, 80

Gokstad ship, 134, 155

Goldmane, 41

Gosforth Cross, 173, 179, 207, 208, 221

Gosforth stone, 90

Goths, 53, 54

Great Goddess, 21, 110, 123

Greenland, 17, 117, 120

Gregory of Tours, 96

Grendel, 18, 198

Grímnismál , 111, 115, 146, 153, 171, 172

Gullinbursti, 98

Gungnir, 42, 53

Gunnar Helming, 93–4, 95, 103

Gylfaginning , 25, 197

Gylfi, 25, 201

Gymir, 130

Hadding, 49, 69, 143, 152

Haddingjar, 170

Hadrian’s Wall, 62, 112

Haethcyn, 189

Hagbard, 151

Haki of Norway, 136